This is Me! Family Fun Art Project

Kids love making art projects. Kids love displaying their art work. Kids love playing in water. This inexpensive self-portrait project lets them do all three! This project is designed to get the whole family involved. Anyone of any ability and age can participate and all of the materials used are non-toxic and safe for kids and pets. Kids can be expressive in a positive way while using all of their sensory capabilities. It is relaxing and encourages exploration of thoughts and emotions in a safe way and, it promotes physical coordination, self-regulation, self-esteem, and bonding. 1, 2, 3…create!

You’ll need some supplies to get started. Most of these you probably already have around the house!

Use paper bags of any size instead of the Kraft paper roll to do smaller projects (i.e. hands, feet, facial silhouette), or look for a single wrapping paper size roll if you are only doing this for one or two kids

Make your own paint for another project (egg tempera or powdered milk paint – recipes available at Tinker Lab https://tinkerlab.com/)

Dollar stores sell multipacks of cheap sponges for next to nothing

Old paint brushes work fine here

Tear up old t-shirts, cut up terry cloth towels (do not wash with fabric softener), blue jeans etc. to paint with

Repurpose a plant watering bottle for a mister

Use baby food containers or jars or empty spice jars to save leftover paint (if you make your own)

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Variation #1

Cut a piece of paper that is approximately 6” longer than your child is tall on either end.

Have your child lie down on the paper.

Have a sibling, friend, or adult trace your child’s outline on the paper using a paint marker or sidewalk chalk, or use the sun’s shadow to outline distorted body images.

Use sponge brushes, fingers, rags, kitchen sponges, to fill in the body forms.

Let kids personalize as they wish, telling a few things they’d like others to know about themselves – for example: What makes me me?

Let dry and spray over with homemade fixative in mist bottle (wash thoroughly afterward as milk hardened is near impossible to get off) to preserve your kids’ masterpieces.

Let dry again and display them on a hallway Walk of Fame in your home. Get the whole family in on it!

Variation #2

Have your child wear as little clothing as possible (swimsuits are great for this – use an old one as it might get ruined).

Sponge on paint colors all over the back side of child’s body and clothing (or go around it if you wish and fill in later).

Have the child lie down on the paper and make an impression or a “paint angel” on the paper.

Let kids personalize as they wish.

Let dry and spray over with homemade fixative in mist bottle (wash thoroughly afterward as milk hardened is near impossible to get off) to preserve your kids’ masterpieces.